Five Key Questions: Bishop O’Connell vs. Episcopal
ARLINGTON, VA — Bishop O’Connell defeated Episcopal by a final score of 86-61 on Saturday. Here we run down five key questions derived from this contest.
WILL WE SEE XAVIER JOHNSON RECORD A TRIP-DUB THIS SEASON?
There’s really no way to know, but it’s always fun to speculate. The Nebraska commit kept the pedal to the medal in this contest, handing out 6 of his game-high 12 dimes in the first half. Johnson was also super active on the glass, pulling down four of his six rebounds in the first three minutes of the game. He’s been flirting with triple doubles all season, and there’s a good chance we could see one before he hangs up his high school jersey for the final time.
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WHY DID EHS COME OUT SO FLAT?
It’s no fun to make excuses, but the Maroon had a pretty good one. With O’Connell having a day off to prepare for this contest, EHS traveled to Bullis where they lost a key IAC contest in overtime. We had a feeling that they could get off to a slow start, and they proved us right going down 11-0 in the first couple of minutes. This loss marks four in a row for the Maroon, but they will look to get back on track in the league with a matchup against St. Albans on Tuesday.
HOW GOOD OF A SHOOTER IS MATT BECHT?
A great one. There’s been a lot of discussion about who the best shooters in the area are, and the list simply isn’t complete without mention of Matt Becht. The Mount St. Mary’s commit hit five more in this contest, and leads the team with 62 made threes through 19 games. We’re still waiting for him to hit 10 in a game, though.
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WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT DOES AYAN TEEL MAKE FOR DJO?
We’ve touched on this before, but we can’t emphasize enough how valuable Ayan Teel is for O’Connell. Not only is he an excellent ball handler, perimeter defender, and decision maker, but the 2019 point guard is also a very good finisher in traffic who doesn’t mind contact. Teel recorded 16 points and 4 assists in this one.
WHICH UNDERCLASSMEN ARE MAKING AN IMPACT FOR THE KNIGHTS?
2020 Jahmal Banks has probably been the most consistent of the underclassmen, but 2020 TJ Gadsden and 2021 Wes Peterson deserve mention for their respectively solid performances in this contest. A 6’4+ wing with a great build, Peterson recorded 9 points and 5 rebounds, showcasing an impressive skill set, strength, and craftiness around the basket. 6’5+ forward TJ Gadsden displayed a soft touch from the perimeter, a high motor, and intriguing defensive potential.